CN1467687A - Systems and methods for providing controllable texture sampling - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for controlling texture sampling in connection with computer graphics in a computer system. In various embodiments, improved mechanisms for controlling texture sampling are provided that enable 3-D accelerator hardware to greatly increase the level of realism in rendering, including improved mechanisms for (1) motion blur; (2) generating anisotropic surface reflections (3) generating surface self-shadowing (4) ray-cast volumetric sampling (4) self-shadowed volumetric rendering and (5) self-shadowed volumetric ray-casting. In supplementing existing texture sampling techniques, parameters for texture sampling may be replaced and/or modified.

Description

Be used to provide the system and method for controllable texture sampling

Copyright statement and authority

The part of patent document may comprise material protected by copyright.The copyright owner does not oppose that anyone faxs and copies patent document or patent specification, shows equally in the patent document of " patent and Trademark Agency " or record as it, but other modes will keep all copyrights.Below statement should be applicable to this document: all rights reserved 2001, Microsoft Corp.

Technical field

The present invention aims to provide a kind of system and method that is used for computer graphical is carried out texture sampling.More particularly, the present invention aims to provide a kind of system and method that is used to carry out controllable texture sampling.

Background of invention

Texture allows signal imaging on geometric figure of colour or veining, thereby details occurs on coarse triangle mesh.Use texture to represent that than refining carrier geometric figure the signal on each summit is more effective in general.Although rasterisation hardware was supported basic texture many years, but begin to provide more strong functions in recent years.

Fig. 1 has shown the general introduction of texture process.Given texture Figure 200, have texel 202, texture according to leg-of-mutton some geometry configuration with the signal application of texture Figure 200 in the triangle 210 of mesh, and/or use some other conversion, as shade, illumination etc., this can be mapped to pixel 222 with texel 202.

Texture is a problem that relates to the Nyquist theory, to avoiding the degree of aliasing, this explanation, for duplicating analog waveform exactly, should be at least with the speed of the twice of its highest frequency to analog signal sampling, so that can represent signal in the numeric field with very high accuracy.Utilize the digital-to-analogue conversion technology to rebuild original analog exactly then.If the sampling rate deficiency of using, the result will produce aliasing so, and aliasing is the high-frequency information of sampling improperly that is shown as the lower frequency noise.

The sampling problem also produces with texture.Sampling obtains screen pixels to the process of texture to texture maps, to possible degree, should sample to the texture maps data with abundant high sampling rate, to comprise highest frequency information.In this, usually, the screen object that certain number of pixels is represented uses the texture maps of the texel (texel) with varying number.When texture maps had than the more texel of pel spacing, single pixel can be mapped to a plurality of texel, and when texture maps had than still less texel of pel spacing, a plurality of pixels can be mapped to single texel.When not shining upon accurately between texture spacing and the picture spacing, just the display quality problem may appear.

In fact, texture maps may not be mapped to corresponding image detail the pixel region of appointment effectively, and is perhaps opposite, all grain details in big/more rich texture maps that less pixel region may not use.

Specifically, with respect to just under the too little situation of mapped pixel region, so same texel will be mapped to adjacent pixels in texture maps, and this can cause occurring blocky effect when checking image.In other cases,, need from texture maps, select to be mapped to the texel accurately in the texel group of given pixel usually, be applied to this pixel then if a plurality of texel is mapped to same pixel.So, this is a process that depends on algorithm, and may cause being called as the human factor that texture is dizzy and pixel ejects, and both of these case is very obvious when mobile camera moving.In addition, even have the pixel and the texel of similar substantially or equal number for mapping, also has some conversion, or function, before presenting, be applied to texel, in this case, some algorithm still must the decision pixel data should with respect to texel data from where.

For the problem that may occur is described, can consider the situation of texel quantity as follows greater than pixel quantity.Supposing has a square billboard surface in three-dimensional (3-D) scene, comprise two equilateral triangles, it is characterized in that square is 100 * 100 pixels.If a people uses the texture maps that comprises 200 levels redness and blue band on 100 * 100 pixel square area, in case be applied to billboard, whole 200 bands of texture all can't be distinguished, because texture has than its applied pixel region more sample.Data texturing can not use in mapping in the middle of some, and will be left in the basket in essence.

Along with a people's 3-D viewpoint moves on billboard, if navigate in a recreation, for example, one is called the phenomenon that pixel ejects and will takes place, this be the band of texture during with the billboard pixel and when alignment and do not line up cause.This is the situation that the texture sampling rate is not enough to describe the details of this scene.This is the explanation of issuable a kind of human factor, also may be because clumsy texture sampling produces the human factor of other types.

Have several different methods reduce to greatest extent by the texture sampling rate not enough and cause present human factor, usually with the form of screening and resampling.Two screening techniques that use in the simple textures method such as point sampling are amplifications and dwindle that they can change the texture sampling method to help to avoid above-described problem.

Dwindle algorithm and be used in the situation that a plurality of texel can be mapped to single pixel, it can select the texel of optimum matching from one group of texel that can be mapped to pixel.Use amplifying technique when a plurality of pixels can be mapped to single texel, it is mapped to a plurality of pixels with single texel.The method that many application textures are arranged, they are different aspect speed and quality, comprise point sampling, bilinearity screening, trilinear MIP mapping, anisotropy screening and anti-aliasing technology.

The most basic approach to a surface applications texture is a point sampling, and this method is used " nearest-neighbor " method of sampling.When renderer is obtained a texture, it from have (u, v) the texture maps of coordinate grasps texture sample, this coordinate is mapped to the coordinate (pixel center) of pixel with nearest zone, and it is applied to pixel.This method shows in Fig. 2 A, it is characterized in that, the relevant position of the mapping from pel spacing to the texel spacing is positioned at position P1.Here, because hithermost texel is T1, therefore selected T1.Though this method is at the bandwidth of memory that need require minimum flow from the texel quantitative aspects that the texture storage device reads, that is, and one of each pixel; the human factor that the result can cause above being discussed usually; because the sample deficiency, that is, screen pixels is not enough to describe texture.But or even first generation personal computer (PC) 3-D hardware also has the function of the cleaning of helping, and perhaps at least on certain degree, that is, by utilizing the bilinearity screening, hides these sampling problems.

The nearest-neighbor on the texture is not just grasped in bilinearity screening, but reads four samples nearest apart from pixel center, and the weighted mean value that uses these color values is as last texture color value.So, shown in Fig. 2 B, obtain the weighted mean value of T1, T2, T3 and T4, it is characterized in that, weight is based on the distance from pixel center to four a texel center.As follows to the demonstration equation that those general known bilinearitys of people of understanding graph processing technique are screened:

c _a＝p _i，j·α+(p _i，j+1)·(1-α _a)

c _b＝p _i+l，j·α+(p _i+1，j+1)·(1-α _a)

F＝lrp(c _a，c _b)·α _b，

Wherein lrp is the linear interpolation function that current Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is understood like a cork.The vision network effect is to remove a lot of texture human factors that point sampling takes place, but because it is the four openings screening of using with single texture maps, so the effect of bilinearity screening is limited.

The another kind of method of improving the texture image quality is the technology that is called as MIP mapping, and wherein, renderer is made a plurality of copies of original texture, and the resolution of the MIP figure that each is follow-up all just in time is half of resolution of one of front.This becomes a kind of 3-D texture effectively, it is characterized in that, two standard coordinates are arranged, and (u v), but also has the 3rd coordinate, and d is used for which figure resolution will mating the pixel region that will shine upon most based on and selects to measure which MIP figure.Approach under the situation of view camera at a fighter plane, will select a very detailed texture maps, but, will use less and not too detailed figure along with the flying away of aircraft.

Along with the d coordinate increases, littler MIP figure will be used.The derivation of d coordinate trends towards complicated, and depends on implementation, calculates and will select to produce great texture amplification from specific MIP figure or dwindle but in general relate to based on the pixel region that will cover.So the method selects to have the MIP figure that minimum texture amplifies and dwindles.Shown in Fig. 2 C, the problem of MIP mapping is to select which texture 200a, 200b, 200c etc. to be used for being illustrated in when presenting pixel 220 pixel quantity for best.

Have several different application programs can use the approach of MIP figure, and they depend on graphic hardware support situation usually.In some cases, application program can select (A) to select (B) texel among this figure to be used the bilinearity screening corresponding to the single figure of the pixel region that will shine upon, and (C) uses the average texture element that is produced to the pixel of their correspondence then.Yet bilinearity MIP shines upon existing visual problem and may take place on the figure border when moving past scene.For example, when driving along track in a recreation, people may see visible the breaking on the texture of track.This may cause owing to MIP figure switches.

The higher quality method of normally used MIP mapping is called trilinear MIP mapping, and this method can help to alleviate MIP figure boundary problem discussed above.This screening technique obtains two bilinearity samples from two nearest MIP figure of distance pixel, each sample uses four texel samples, wherein, the resolution of a texture maps than the pixel region that will shine upon a little more greatly, another resolution is a little bit smaller a little.Then, the trilinear algorithm uses weighted mean value that the texel of two bilinearity screenings is combined in the veining pixel of generation, and the weight of the figure of the relatively more close pixel region of its resolution is bigger.

Yet, even also there is some shortcoming in trilinear MIP mapping, these shortcomings are relevant with level of detail (LOD) deviation usually.Each MIP figure has related LOD, and deviation must be relevant with the weight factor of mean value between two bilinearity Screening Samples obtaining from two different figure.If the LOD deviation " makes progress " too much, ask weight more to trend towards the figure of small in resolution to mean value, it is fuzzy to produce texture.If LOD deviation " downwards " is too many, ask weight more to trend towards bigger MIP figure to mean value, aliasing, and time aliasing may produce as texture flicker/contraction.So, the LOD deviation can change the d value, causes using less or bigger figure, though the d value is still pre-configured when exploitation.These technology existing questions are isotropic character of bilinearity or trilinear screening.May be different widely in texture with amplification/dwindle along other along the amplification of an axle/dwindle, thus may cause producing aliasing and in other axles, producing fuzzy along an axle.

Also have another triage techniques to be called the anisotropy screening, this technology attempts solving the isotropic nature of bilinearity and trilinear screening.A kind of form of anisotropy screening is used MIP figure sampling, but is not to adopt eight samples, but adopts 16 samples.When using the anisotropy screening, an artificial renderer specifies what the anisotropic number of degrees are, this is that texture can stretch ratio how far before its picture quality begins to descend.

In the anisotropy screening of another kind of form, repeatedly carry out the bilinearity screening along certain angle.This may be more useful under the situation that current " hangover " is spontaneous phenomenon in pixel, for example, in the racing car video-game under situation about burning the wind on the road.When the polygon of veining became an oblique angle with the plane of screen, regional elongated corresponding to the screen pixels that is mapped to texture promptly, no longer was square.More perfect method is used the set of the eccentric shape of texel in this zone, and they are mixed to produce last result.Calculate the correct shape that will use for this sample area, and how long it should have, be the problem that is difficult to.Any current known algorithm of finishing this task all with their calculating only based on the relative geometric configuration of screen pixels to polygon texel alignment thereof, do not have a kind of method to provide and can make the developer predictably/intelligently control the dirigibility of this process.

The anisotropy sampling of repeatedly carrying out the bilinearity screening of this form is shown in Fig. 2 D, for will be along some P1a by the angle θ anisotropy screening of ratio Δ v/ Δ u definition, and by some P1a, the step-length s between P1b, the P1c etc. of the size definition of Δ v and Δ u, according to leg-of-mutton some prefix geometric aspects that will present.Defined the location of P1b and P1c along the elliptical shape of angle θ.Then, among Pla, Plb and the Plc each, carry out the bilinearity screening, for this example, in the mode of weighting, will mix respectively: (A) T14, T11, T15 and T12, (B) T11, T12, T6 and T5 and (C) T7, T6, T8 and T1 by the group of four correspondences of forming.

When using more multisample on this direction, texture will must stretch to fit will be used its surface, and the anisotropy screening can obtain more distinct image quality than bilinearity or trilinear screening, and the texture flicker that can avoid point sampling to produce.Should also be noted that the literal of the anisotropy screening that shows with angle, as in the billboard of horse race game, or in the beginning of " Star War " film, than more clearly presenting with other screening techniques.

In general, graphics application program DLL (dynamic link library) (API) has that two or more texture addresses are stored on single summit so that the regulation of using in the multi-texturing effect.In early days, use multi-texturing to create the lighting effect that uses light figure, reach bonus effect such as the mapping of piece shape but use it always.These multi-texturing functions finally force 3-D chip manufacturer that the chip assets are put into and create the parallel pixel pipeline, in up-to-date several generations chip, and a plurality of texel of each processes pixel of each clock.

Have can a plurality of texel of each processes pixel the advantage that parallel pipeline obtained be, the multi-texturing operation can be finished in the single clock period usually, each pixel drafting hyperchannel does not repeatedly present in one of them scene and must not carry out.Must make to present each additional channels of a scene for chip, its valid pixel fill rate is divided by the quantity of the passage of needs manufacturing.Therefore, must make two passages and just can present the scene with multi-texturing effect if having the chip of fill rate 500Mpixels/sec, effective fill rate of this chip is reduced to 250Mpixels/sec so.If it makes four passages, then fill rate can drop to 125Mpixels/sec.So, parallel pipeline also can improve the efficient that figure presents widely.

The difference of the mode of operation of multi-texturing and common single veining is not so big, is that independent texture must mix, and mixes with the existing pixel color that Rendering Process produces then.Yet the quantity of the texture that will use in a scene is double or turn over three times and can significantly improve the amount of obtaining the needed frame buffer bandwidth of extra texture, and if made a plurality of passages, the misgivings that once existed overall performance to descend.Yet it is unnecessary that the recent years of the development of graphic process unit has very fast made these misgivings become.

Veining, and multi-texturing can be used for creating far-ranging visual effect, and the description of basic side is a tip of the iceberg.The developer has also found the approach of another kind of establishment texture: the developer is not storage " canned " bitmap, and can create a small routine of creating texture with procedural mode.This technology has been used to create anything, and from marble surface, the region texture in the large-scale outdoor environment is to the effect of flowing water.

Another process that many application programs seek to handle with 3-D is that keynote is set.It is particular importance that trial makes the game player be immersed in the world of the developer imagination.A useful tool that obtains different keynotes is a mist, and mist can also help to provide the additional sensation of a depth of field to a scene.

Mist can realize the variation that must handle is how mist deepens usually with different ways.Two very common methods are called linear and index mist, they are respectively by linearity and exponential manner convergent-divergent, as they title hinted.All right each summit of mist or the application of each pixel ground, the most of things in 3-D, each pixel seems more convincing, but calculates more expensive.

The more sophisticated method of using fog effect is called the mist based on scope, and this method can't be used in consumer 3-D chip traditionally, but along with the appearance of the summit shade program among the DirectX8, is an option based on the mist of scope.Another kind method is called fogmeter, and wherein, the mist value is stored in the question blank, is applied to each pixel then.

But no matter be which kind of technology, mist all is that an object has function how far, judges that by its z value this value is the distance of view camera usually.No matter calculate a mist factor then, be to calculate linearly or exponentially, use then married operation with mist amount (color) with illuminate/Rendering Process/veining pixel color combines, and is applied to pixel.Carry out if mist is each ground, summit, the mist operation will become the part of illumination calculation so, and use the Gouraud Rendering Process to stride each triangular ground and insert.

Another practical use of mist is to allow to be arranged in to cut out plane object at a distance and " fade out " grazioso and just do not suddenly disappear from scene.Mist can also be used to allow renderer only need draw more close with view camera comparatively speaking practical object.So, when the mist value near or reach zero (the mist value is the floating point values between 0 and 1 normally, the 0th, absolute mist the 1st, does not have mist), object is dropped in essence, does not have other to present need of work and finishes.

Also exist and be used to use transparent and translucent technology.Different with opaque object is that in general, transparent object must can be used with the basic colors that mixes with transparent object when carrying out married operation by the degree of depth with the rank order back to face.Have a plurality of formula to be used to calculate the translucence of an object, but a formula commonly used is:

c _o=α c _s+ (1-α) c _d, it is characterized in that

c _oThe last color of=pixel

α=alpha value (between 0 and 1)

c _sThe color of=transparent pixels (being called the source) and

c _d=sealing color of pixel (being called target).

This formula is the summation of two pixel modulation, and wherein, alpha value differently is applied to two pixels, and then, the value of generation is added together so that last pixel color to be provided.

So, there are countless technology to use with computer graphical is carried out texture sampling; Yet up to now, any one technology in the countless technology that the developer selects when exploitation is fixed, and does not have too big dirigibility.Because some variable and heuristics are useful for the situation of some figure, and of no use to the other figure, the final mass the possibility of result is a hodgepodge, even processing power is more and more higher.Correspondingly, the intelligence that improves the texture sampling algorithm of the front end be applied to this process is desirable.In view of more and more significant towards the trend of flex point-function G PU, ideal situation is to expose controllable texture sampling so that the developer dynamically uses dynamic and intelligent and handle different situations with effective and efficient manner.Along with more consideration material properties, curved surface, capacity texture and have the senior programmable every pixel Rendering Process of more complicated single channel texture blend and the appearance of illumination algorithm, can make the developer that the texture sampling process is controlled to become and be necessary more.Controllably will be, or hangover such as fuzzy, or the human factor of flicker and so on to be incorporated into the image that presents also may be desirable.Correspondingly, for in following any one or a plurality of: the function in operating system, driver code, application programming interface, kit and/or the graphic pipeline itself, comprise GPU or other associated treatment equipment, providing one, the mechanism of controllable texture sampling ability is provided is desirable.

Summary of the invention

In view of aforesaid situation, the invention provides the system and method that in computer system, is used for computer graphical is carried out controllable texture sampling.In each embodiment, the improved mechanism that is used to control texture sampling is provided, they can make the 3-D accelerator hardware improve widely to be current fidelity, comprise at following improved mechanism: (1) motion blur; (2) generate the anisotropic surface reflection; (3) generate the surface and haul oneself willingly into shade; (4) ray cast capacity sampling; (4) haul oneself willingly into the shade capacity present and (5) haul oneself willingly into shade capacity ray cast.When supplementing existing texture sampling techniques, can replace and/or revise the parameter that is used for texture sampling.

In each embodiment, method, device, computer-readable medium and associated treatment equipment are provided, they can carry out controllable texture sampling, comprise the parameter that specifies in the sample area of utilizing when texture maps carried out texture sampling, and texture maps is carried out texture sampling according to the designated parameter of sample area.

Other features of various details and embodiment.

Description of drawings

Further describe the system and method that is used to provide controllable texture sampling according to of the present invention below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 provides the general introduction of carrying out the process of texture sampling in a computer graphics system;

Fig. 2 A provides the general introduction of the existing point sampling process of utilizing when carrying out texture sampling in computer graphics system;

Fig. 2 B provides the general introduction of the existing bilinearity screening process of utilizing when carrying out texture sampling in computer graphics system;

Fig. 2 C provides the general introduction of the existing MIP mapping process that utilizes when carrying out texture sampling in computer graphics system;

Fig. 2 D provides the general introduction of the existing anisotropy screening process of utilizing when carrying out texture sampling in computer graphics system;

Fig. 3 A is that expression can realize the block scheme with exemplary network environment of various computing equipments of the present invention therein;

Fig. 3 B is the block scheme that expression can realize the non-limiting computing equipment of demonstration of the present invention therein;

Fig. 4 A has shown provides of the present invention of controllable texture sampling therein

Embodiment;

Fig. 4 B has shown an alternative embodiment of the invention that controllable texture sampling is provided therein;

Fig. 5 has shown the process that can use an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Embodiment

General introduction

A kind of mechanism that is used to carry out controllable texture sampling is provided, and this mechanism can make the 3-D accelerator hardware improve widely to be current fidelity, has opened the approach that uses ray trace to calculate in 3-D hardware.Up to now, such method is limited to the software renderer of working with host-processor, and graphic pipeline has widely slowed down.In this, current, the 3-D graphic chips has a device that is called sampler, is used for extracting during presenting the color of the texture on the polygon.Because the locations of pixels that presents not exclusively corresponding to the position of the texel in the texture, therefore relates to a few thing in general.Texture sampling can use technology and the other technologies such as point sampling, bilinearity screening, MIP mapping and anisotropy screening described in background parts to carry out with various ripe ranks.Such prior art all has fixing range of application, and is not suitable for all situations.In addition, present anisotropy triage techniques can be eliminated blur effect, and in fact the developer may wish to create blur effect.Correspondingly, the parameter that the present invention had fixed before the developer has exposed is so that providing unprecedented intelligence for the developer aspect the controlling level of texture sampling process.In each embodiment, the present invention is very useful for various grain effects.In addition, the present invention can both realize with software, hardware or software and hardware, and effect is identical.For example, some realize that details can realize in the associated treatment chip such as GPU, and some other information can be exposed to the graphical development personnel by API kit, operating system, driver, Downloadable code etc.

Demonstration networking and distributed environment

Common people who is proficient in present technique is appreciated that the part that computing machine or other clients or server apparatus can be used as computer network disposes, or disposes in distributed computing environment.In this, the present invention relates to have any computer system of many internal memories or storage unit, and may stride many storage unit or perm living many application programs and process with what the texture sampling process was used.The present invention goes for having long-range or local storage and has the server computer disposed and the environment of client computer in network environment or distributed computing environment.The present invention can also be applied to independent to have the programming language function, be used to generate, receive and transmit the explanation of the information that relates to long-range or local service and the computing equipment of executive capability.

Distributed Calculation promotes sharing of computer resource and service by the direct exchange between computing equipment and the system.These resources and service comprise the disk storage of exchange, buffer memory and the file of information.Distributed Calculation utilizes network to connect, and allows client to utilize their collective power that whole enterprise is benefited.In this, various device may have application program, object or the resource that possibility relates to the texture sampling process, and they may utilize technology of the present invention.

Fig. 3 A provides the synoptic diagram of demonstration networking or distributed computing environment.Distributed computing environment comprises calculating object 10a, 10b or the like and calculating object or equipment 110a, 110b, 110c etc.These objects can comprise program, method, data storage, programmable logic etc.Object can comprise the ingredient of the identical or different equipment such as PDA, TV, MP3 player, TV, personal computer.Each object can communicate by communication network 14 and another object.This network itself can comprise that the system to Fig. 3 A provides other calculating objects and the computing equipment of service.According to an aspect of the present invention, each object in 10a, 10b or the like or 110a, 110b, 110c or the like object can comprise the application program that can ask the texture sampling service.

In the distributing mode computer system structure, at the computing machine that may only use traditionally as client, directly communicating between them, and can be used as client and server, it is the most effective for network to serve as any role.This will reduce the load on the server, and allows available resource on other clients of all client-access, thereby improves the performance and the efficient of whole network.Texture sampling service according to the present invention can so distribute between client and server, to move for whole network effective and efficient manner.

Distributed Calculation can help enterprise to stride different geographical frontiers service and performance more effectively are provided.In addition, Distributed Calculation can move on to data the point of more close use data, thereby serves as a network-caching mechanism.Distributed Calculation also allows computational grid to use dynamically cooperation together of intelligent agent.The agency resides on the peer computer, and passes on various information back and forth.The agency can also represent other peer system initiating tasks.For example, intelligent agent can be used for the task on the network is in a preferential order arranged, and changes communication stream, local search file or definite abnormal behaviour such as virus, and stopped it before it influences network.Can also use various other services.Because Drawing Object and texture maps can be positioned at one or more positions physically in practice, the ability of distribution texture sampling service is very useful in such system.

Be further appreciated that the object such as 110c can leave with at another computing equipment 10a, 10b or the like or above 110a, the 110b etc.So, though the physical environment of describing can show that the equipment of connection is computing machine, such explanation is exemplary, and physical environment also can comprise various digital devices, as PDA, TV, MP3 player or the like, the software object such as interface, com object.

System, assembly and network configuration that various support distributed computing environment are arranged.For example, computing system can pass through Wireline or wireless system, and the network by local network or distribution links together.Current, many networks are connected to the Internet, and the Internet is provide the foundation structure and comprise many different networks of Distributed Calculation widely.

In home network environment, have four different Network Transmission medium at least, each medium can be supported unique agreement, data (comprising wireless and wired), voice (for example, phone) and the entertainment medium such as power lead.Can use power lead to be connected such as light switch with most of families opertaing device the electrical equipment.Data, services can be used as broadband (for example, DSL or cable modem) and enters family, and can use wireless (for example, HomeRF or 802.11b) or wired (for example, Home PNA, Cat 5, even power lead) connection to conduct interviews within the family.Voice communication can be used as, and wired (for example, Cat 3) or wireless (for example, cell phone) enter family, and can use Cat 3 distributions to distribute within the family.Entertainment medium, or other graph datas, can be via satellite or cable enter family, use concentric cable to distribute within the family usually.The digital interconnect that IEEE 1394 and DVI also troop as media device occurs.All these network environments and other may can be connected to each other as the thing that consensus standard occurs to constitute Intranet, and this Intranet can be connected with the external world by the Internet.In brief, have various source, be used for the storage and the transmission of data, therefore, move forward, computing equipment will require the approach of shared data, as according to the present invention Drawing Object and texture maps being carried out the data that texture sampling is visited or utilized.

The Internet typically refers to the network that utilizes the ICP/IP protocol external member and the set of gateway, and these agreements are well known in computer networking technology.TCP/IP is " Transport Control Protocol/Internet protocol " (TCP).The Internet can be described to allow the user by network interaction and shared information by the interconnected remote computer network that disperses geographically of the computing machine of carrying out procotol.Because this type of information sharing widely, telecommunication network such as the Internet has little by little developed into an open system so far, the developer can be used to carry out special operation or service, in essence without limits at this system design software application.

So, a lot of network topologies such as client/server, equity or hybrid architecture are arranged above the network infrastructure." client " is to use and the class of the service of its incoherent another kind of or group or the member of group.So, in calculating, client is a process, that is, roughly be the one group of instruction or the task of the service that provides of another program of request.Client process is utilized requested service, and needn't " know " operational detail of relevant other programs or service itself.In client/server architecture, specifically, in the system of networking, client is normally visited the computing machine of the shared network resource that another computing machine such as server provides.In the example of Fig. 3 A, computing machine 110a, 110b or the like can be considered to client, computing machine 10a, 10b or the like can be considered to server, and wherein server 10a, 10b or the like have safeguarded data, and these data can copy to client computer 110a, 110b etc. then.

Server normally can be by the remote computer system of the remote network access such as the Internet.Client process can be in active state in first computer system, server processes can be in active state in second computer system, communicate by communication media each other, distributed function so is provided, allow a plurality of clients to utilize the information gathering function of server.

The function that client and server utilizes protocol layer to provide each other communicates.For example, Hypertext Transmission Protocol (HTTP) is the common agreement of using with world wide web (www).Usually, serviced device in computer network address such as universal resource locator (url) or Internet agreement (IP) address or client computer are used for discerning each other the other side.The network address can be called as the URL address.For example, can provide communication by communication media.Specifically, client and server can connect each other by TCP/IP and connect, so that carry out the communication of high power capacity.

So, Fig. 3 A has shown a demonstration networking or distributed environment, and server communicates by network/bus and client computer, can use the present invention in this environment.Specifically, many server 10a, 10b or the like are connected to each other by communications network/bus 14, network can be LAN, WAN, Intranet, the Internet or the like, have many clients such as portable computer, hand-held computer, thin-client, networking electrical equipment or remote computing device 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d, 110e or the like or such as VCR, TV, baking box, lamp, well heater or the like according to other equipment of the present invention.So it is contemplated that, the present invention can be applied to can the processing graphics object any computing equipment.

In communications network/bus 14 is in the Internet environment, for example, server 10a, 10b etc. can be Web servers, and client 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d, 110e etc. can communicate by any agreement and these Web servers in the many known agreement such as HTTP.Server 10a, 10b etc. can also serve as client 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d, 110e, and this may be the feature of distributed computing environment.Communication can be adopted wired mode or wireless mode, as long as suitable.Client device 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d, 110e etc. can maybe cannot communicate by communications network/bus 14, and can have the independent communication related with it.For example, using under TV or the VCR situation, the aspect that has or may not have networking is to control it.Each client computer 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d, 110e etc. can be equipped with various application program modules or object 135 with server computer 10a, 10b etc., have and connect or visit various types of memory elements or object, can storage file or the part of file can be downloaded or moved to wherein.Any computing machine 10a, 10b, 110a, 110b etc. can be responsible for safeguarding and new database 20 or according to other memory elements of the present invention more, such as database or storer 20, and the intermediate pattern object that is used for the graphics object or handles according to the present invention.So, the present invention can use in the computer network environment with client computer 110a, 110b etc., these client computers can be visited and be mutual with computer network/bus 14 and server computer 10a, 10b etc., and server computer can carry out with client computer 110a, 110b etc. and other things such as equipment and database 20 alternately.

The demonstration computing equipment

Fig. 3 B and following discussion aim to provide a brief general description that can realize suitable computing environment of the present invention.Yet, should be appreciated that portable, portable and other computing equipments and various calculating object also can be used for the present invention.Though what describe below is the general service computing machine, this is an example, and the present invention can be to have network/bus interoperability and mutual THE REALIZATION FOR THIN CLIENT.So, the present invention can realize in the environment with the networking trusteeship service, in this environment, only relates to considerably less client resource, and for example, client device is only as the network environment of the interface of network/bus, as is positioned over the object on the electrical equipment.In essence, can store data or therefrom any position of retrieve data all be the desirable or suitable environment that be fit to use controllable texture sampling techniques of the present invention.

Though do not do requirement, the present invention can realize that the developer of the service of supply equipment or object uses, and/or is included in the application software that uses with controllable texture sampling of the present invention by operating system.Software can be described in the general context of the executable instruction of being carried out by one or more computing machine such as client station, server or other equipment of computing machine such as program module.In general, program module comprises the routine carrying out particular task or realize particular abstract, program, object, assembly, data structure or the like.Usually, the function of program module can make up or distribute in various embodiments on demand.In addition, those people that are proficient in present technique will understand, and the present invention can use in other computer system configurations.Can use other known computing systems of the present invention, environment and/or configuration comprises, but be not limited only to personal computer (PC), Automatic Teller Machine, server computer, portable or laptop devices, multicomputer system, system, programmable consumer electronics product, network PC, electrical equipment, lamp, environment control element, minicomputer, large scale computer or the like based on microprocessor.The present invention can also use in the distributed computing environment that task is carried out by the teleprocessing equipment that is linked at by communications network/bus or other data transmission medias together.In distributed computing environment, program module can be arranged in the local and remote computer-readable storage medium that comprises memory device, and client node can serve as server node again.

So, Fig. 3 B has shown an example that can realize suitable computingasystem environment 100 of the present invention therein, though clearly explanation as mentioned, computingasystem environment 100 is an example of suitable computing environment, range of application of the present invention or function are not made any restriction.Computing environment 100 also should not be interpreted as and demonstrate any one assembly shown in the running environment 100 or combination of components has any dependence or requirement.

Please see Figure 3B, one is used to realize that demonstration system of the present invention comprises the general service computing equipment of computing machine 110 forms.The assembly of computing machine 110 can include but not limited to, processing unit 120, Installed System Memory 130, and binding comprises the various system components of Installed System Memory and the system bus 121 of processing unit 120.System bus 121 can be the bus structure of any kind, comprises rambus or Memory Controller Hub, peripheral bus, and the local bus that uses the bus architecture of any kind of.As example, and be not limited only to, such architecture comprises ISA (EISA) bus, video electronic product standard association (VESA) local bus of ISA(Industry Standard Architecture) bus, MCA (MCA) bus, enhancing, and periphery component interconnection (PCI) bus, just usually said add-in card bus.

Computing machine 110 generally includes various computer-readable media.Computer-readable medium can be any available medium by computing machine 110 visit, and comprises volatibility and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable medium.As example, and be not limited only to, computer-readable medium can comprise computer-readable storage medium and communication media.Computer-readable storage medium comprise the volatibility that realizes with any method or technology with non-volatile, movably with non-movably medium, to be used to store the information such as computer readable instructions, data structure, program module or other data.Computer-readable storage medium comprises, but be not limited only to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory techniques, CDROM, digital multi disk (DVD) or other optical disc memorys, magnetic tape station, tape, magnetic disk memory or other magnetic storage apparatus perhaps can be used for storing any other medium that needed information and computing machine 110 can be visited.Communication media usually one such as carrier wave modulated data signal or other transmission mechanisms in implement computer readable instructions, data structure, program module or other data, and comprise that any information provides medium.Term " data-signal of modulation " is meant to have one or more its feature sets or change by this way so that the information in the signal is carried out encoded signals.As example, and be not limited only to, communication media comprises wire medium, as cable network or direct wired connection, and wireless medium, as acoustic control, RF, infrared and other wireless mediums.Above-mentioned any several combination also should be included in the scope of computer-readable medium.

Installed System Memory 130 comprises computer-readable storage medium easy mistake and/or the nonvolatile memory form, as ROM (read-only memory) (ROM) 131 and random-access memory (ram) 132.Usually stored a basic input/output 133 (BIOS) among the ROM 131, the inside comprises the basic routine of (as in start-up course) transmission information between help each element in computing machine 110.RAM 132 comprises data and/or the program module that processing unit 120 is addressable immediately and/or operating on it at present usually.As example, and be not limited only to, Fig. 3 B has illustrated operating system 134, application program 135, other program modules 136, and routine data 137.

Computing machine 110 can also comprise other movably/non-movably, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media.Only as example, Fig. 3 B has shown a hard disk drive that can read or write from non-movably non-volatile magnetic medium, a disc driver 151 that reads or write from non-volatile magnetic disk 152 movably, and the CD drive 155 that can read or write from the movably non-volatile CD 156 such as CDROM or other optical mediums.Other removable/non-movably volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used for exemplary operational environment include but not limited to tape, flash card, digital multi disk, digital video tape, solid-state RAM, solid-state ROM or the like.Hard disk drive 141 is connected to system bus 121 by a non-movably memory interface such as interface 140 usually, and disc driver 151 and CD drive 155 are connected to system bus 121 by the movably memory interface such as interface 150 usually.

Driver and top discussion and the computer-readable storage medium related with them that shows in Fig. 3 B will be computing machine 110 storage computation machines readable instruction, data structure, program module and other data.For example, in Fig. 3 B, hard disk drive 141 has been stored operating system 144, application program 145, other program modules 146, and routine data 147.Note that these assemblies can with operating system 134, application program 135, other program modules 136, and routine data 137 is identical, also can be different.Operating system 144, application program 145, other program modules 146, and routine data 147 used different numberings here so that save your breath bright they are different copies.The user can be by input equipment input command and the information in computing machine 110 such as keyboard 162 and indicating equipment 161 (typically referring to mouse, trace ball or touch pad).Other input equipment (not shown)s can comprise microphone, joystick, cribbage-board, dish, scanner or similarly install.These and other input equipments are connected to processing unit 120 by user's input interface 160 that is connected to system bus 121 usually, but also can be connected with bus structure by other interfaces such as parallel port, game port or USB (universal serial bus) (USB).Graphic interface 182 such as Northbridge also can be connected with system bus 121.Northbridge is a chipset that communicates with CPU, host process unit 120, and responsible Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) communication.One or more Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) 184 can communicate with graphic interface 182.In this, GPU 184 generally comprises the memory stores on the chip such as register-stored and GPU, and GPU 184 communicates with video memory 186.Yet GPU 184 is the example of a coprocessor just, and various associated treatment equipment like this can be included in the computing machine 110.The display device of monitor 191 or other types also is connected to system bus 121 by an interface such as video interface 190, and this interface may communicate with video memory 186 again.Except monitor 191, computing machine can also comprise other peripheral output devices, and as loudspeaker 197 and printer 196, they can connect by an output peripheral interface 195.

Computing machine 110 can use the logic with one or more remote computer such as remote computer 180 to be connected in a networking or the distributed environment and move.Remote computer 180 can be personal computer, server, router, network PC, peer device or other universal network nodes, generally include above about the many or whole elements in the description of computing machine 110, though in Fig. 3 B, only shown memory storage device 181.The logic of describing among Fig. 3 B connects and comprises Local Area Network 171 and wide area network (WAN) 173, but also can comprise other network/bus.Such network environment is common in family, office, enterprise computer network, Intranet and the Internet.

When computing machine 110 used in a lan network environment, it was connected to LAN 171 by network interface or adapter 170.When computing machine 110 used in a WAN network environment, it generally includes a modulator-demodular unit 172 or other are used for setting up communicating devices at the WAN such as the Internet 173.Modulator-demodular unit 172 can be built-in, also can be external, can be connected to system bus 121 by user's input interface 160 or other corresponding mechanism.In network environment, relate to the program module of computing machine 110, perhaps its part can be stored in the remote memory storage devices.As example, and be not limited to, Fig. 3 B has shown the remote application 185 that resides on the memory device 181.Obviously, the network connection that shows here is exemplary, also can use other devices to set up communication link between computing machine.

The exemplary distribution formula is calculated framework or architecture

Various distributed computing frameworks have been developed and have developed according to concentrating of individual's calculating and the Internet.Individual and enterprise customer have been provided the seamless interoperability of application program and computing equipment and have enabled the interface of Web, make computational activity more and more towards Web browser or network.

For example, the .NET platform of MICROSOFT  comprises server, member service, as data storage and the Downloadable device software based on Web.Generally speaking, .NET platform provides (1) that series of computation equipment is cooperated together and user profile is upgraded and synchronous ability on all computing equipments automatically, (2) owing to be extensive use of XML rather than HTML, improve the interaction capabilities of website, (3) online service, be characterized in, self-defined visit and provide products ﹠ services to the user from a central start, be used to manage various application programs, as Email, or software, as Office.NET, (4) data storage of Ji Zhonging, this can raise the efficiency the easy visit with information, and the information between user and the equipment is synchronous, (5) integrated such as Email, the ability of the various communication mediums of fax and phone and so on, (6), create the ability of reusable module, thereby increase work efficiency and quantity and (7) of reducing misprogrammed also have many other cross-platform integrated functionalities for the developer.

Although example embodiment herein is to describe in conjunction with the software that resides on the computing equipment, but one or more part of the present invention also can realize by " go-between " object between operating system, application programming interface (API) or coprocessor and the request object, so that controllable texture sampling service can be passed through language and the service of all .NET and carry out in other distributed computing frameworks, supports.

Controllable texture sampling

As described in background parts, many different technology are arranged, can be applied computer graphical is carried out texture sampling, concrete condition depends on the application program that relates to., problem is that in case select, technology is just fixing, there are not many dirigibilities, if be not suitable for the unique circumstances of selected texture sampling techniques, if perhaps the developer should need some artificial effect, as fuzzy, last, can not do whatever.Correspondingly, the present invention is to texture sampling algorithm application intelligence, and the developer for front end provides bigger degree of freedom like this, can carry out more dynamic texture sampling in the rear end.So, technology of the present invention is utilized the trend of flex point-function G PU, has exposed controllable texture sampling so that the developer dynamically uses dynamic and intelligent and has handled different situations in a different manner.Correspondingly, in each embodiment, for in following any one or a plurality of: the function in operating system, driver code, API, kit and/or the graphic pipeline itself, comprise GPU or other associated treatment equipment, the invention provides the mechanism that controllable texture sampling ability is provided.

The present invention so provides various technology, is used for controlling the texture sampling process by programmable sampling.As mentioned, in a kind of anisotropy screening of form, repeatedly carry out the bilinearity screening along certain angle in background parts.Shown in Fig. 4 A, when the polygon of veining becomes an oblique angle with the plane of screen, become the shape of an elongation such as ellipse corresponding to the zone of the screen pixels that is mapped to texture.The method that the correct shape that sample area for this reason uses is calculated in any current known being used to all with their calculating only based on the relative geometric configuration of screen pixels to polygon texel alignment thereof, do not have a kind of method to provide to make the developer predictably and the directly dirigibility of the size and Orientation of control area intelligently.So, the invention provides various mechanism, be used for the automatic calculating of having carried out is carried out " manually covering " and/or revised the result that they generate, make the visual vivid degree of real-time 3-D figure reach a new height.

About manual covering, by with replacement value Δ u _NewWith Δ v _NewReplace the Δ u and the Δ v that are used to the zoning usually, can utilize the present invention to replace the size and Orientation in zone.This shows in Fig. 4 A, wherein Δ u _NewWith Δ v _NewDefined replacement direction θ _New, and defined replacement step-length s _NewSo, specify replacement Δ u by API, operating system, kit, driver etc. _NewWith Δ v _NewValue can be controlled the texture sampling process.In this, by distributing and/or redistributing some register to reach such processing, current flex point function G PU can receive the token that expression realizes the function of this point.Can also make GPU in advance to carry out this processing.Replacing in some cases may be faster than the technology of present use, because chip no longer participates in the parameter that the computing application program defines between replacement period.

About revising the current zone that utilizes with the anisotropy technology, by using offset value delta u ₀With Δ v ₀Modification is commonly used to the Δ u and the Δ v of zoning, can utilize the size and Orientation of modifier area of the present invention.This shows in Fig. 4 A, wherein Δ u+ Δ u ₀With Δ v+ Δ v ₀Defined the direction θ of a modification ₀, also defined the step-length s of a modification ₀So, by the value of specifying Offsets Δ u such as API, operating system, kit, drivers ₀With Δ v ₀Value can be controlled the texture sampling process.Be similar to replacement, current flex point function G PU can receive the token that expression realizes the function of this point, or makes in advance to reach identical result.As modification described herein, imagination Δ u and Δ u ₀Or Δ v and Δ v ₀Be not any function of simple addition, that is, and multiplication, index, square root, subtraction or any mathematical function F (Δ u and Δ u ₀) or F (Δ v and Δ v ₀) also go for screening task on hand.

Can provide simultaneously and revise and the replacement function, if the developer selects to allow hardware to show as usually with respect to texture, the both is optional.Yet the present invention is that the developer provides the option that replenishes present existing technology by replacing and/or revise definition texture sampling zone to reach controllable texture sampling.

In addition, as described in background parts, the demonstration equation that those known bilinearitys of people of grasping graph processing technique are screened comprises following several:

c _a＝p _i，j·α+(p _i，j+1)·(1-α _a)

c _b＝p _i+1，j·α+(p _i+1，j+1)·(1-α _a)

F＝lrp(c _a，c _b)·α _b，

In other embodiments, the present invention can make the developer calculate with the bilinearity screening and use α _aAnd α _bReplacement or modification, the extra one deck control to the texture sampling process is provided.

Technology provided by the invention is general, and its range of application almost is unlimited.So, although below a lot of examples of its purposes are provided, provided the example of a lot of effects that can use with the present invention in background parts, be intended to be applied to need control any texture sampling process of the various aspects of mapping to it.

The example of purposes of the present invention so will be provided below, with and example pseudo code.

Current method at motion blur requires a plurality of passages that present, and for example, between four and eight, this will directly cause performance slack-off, and for example, performance slack-off four is to octuple.Use can provide similar result according to passage of a screening technique of the present invention needs, and is much smaller to Effect on Performance.Under these circumstances, the present invention's direction vector that using iterative (summit rank) Data Control will be blured therein.As what above told about, can revise or replace direction vector by revising or replace defined parameters.Similarly method can be used for simulation and/or controls reflection/Fresnel fuzzy.

Can generate anisotropic surface reflection and lighting effect for the propinquity effect of light scattering and some mirror illumination.Real mirror illumination is from environment map, and current techniques can not anisotropically be sampled to environment map.Technology of the present invention can realize that the anisotropic of environment map of reflection presents.Such technology is particularly suitable for glossiness, yet anisotropic surface, as the medal polish of the scrubbing brush gently on the stainless steel accessory, and can use each summit of sample direction and each pixel to specify by the defined parameters of revising or replace sample direction.

Haul oneself willingly into shade about the surface, many technology that promote each pixel light photograph on surface are arranged.Most of technology in these technology can only be carried out the stray illumination effect, and these effects are level and smooth, soft lighting effects according to definition.The conclusive visual impact of rough surface is incident upon shade on the lower zone from higher zone, and these shades provide the border of pure and fresh high-contrast, have described to these clear border the coarse of superficial makings.Other methods that are used for calculating the shade of 3-D figure can only be mapped to another polygon with shadow falls from a polygon, are invalid for the shade between the texel of calculating on the same polygon.So, the present invention comes each pixel of application sample direction to specify by the defined parameters of revising or replace sample direction.

Fig. 5 has shown shade ultimate principle behind, and has shown other embodiment of the present invention.In Fig. 5, shown any region or a surperficial T that will be projected or illuminate from point source ps, wherein the shadow region is exposed to the zone on the surface of light from point source ps from the mathematics expression.In this, region T is defined by many points, and these points except having u and v value, also have the w value, and this value is corresponding to the height of the point of region T.So, the sample direction of shade among the 3-D or illumination is usually directed to be provided with the 3-D sample direction vector that has by the direction and the step-length of Δ u, Δ v and Δ w value defined.In this, the present invention can replace or revise Δ u, Δ v and Δ w value, and the above-described technology that is applied to Δ u and Δ v value is extended to Δ w value.

About ray cast capacity sampling, currently be used for method that capacity presents and require a capacity is cut into polygon with the relative quadrature of direction of visual lines.This just produces the band human factor along the edge and the angle of such capacity.By means of technology of the present invention, can controllably avoid these human factors and can improve performance.So, by means of the present invention, can specify or revise the 3-D vector, this vector has been determined sample direction, then this direction of iteration linearly from the summit.Then can be by a series of multiple-units, for example, unit 8, trilinear sample or sample by the bilinearity sample.

Present about hauling oneself willingly into the shade capacity, when presenting this technology of use, can in the capacity that presents, simulate and haul oneself willingly into shade or illuminate effect certainly in conjunction with traditional thin slice or plank pattern capacity.So, by means of the present invention, can realize the appointment or the modification on each summit of 3-D sample direction vector.

About hauling oneself willingly into shade capacity ray cast, added the nested loop rank, wherein on each sample of light, along to one group of independent sample of light source direction projection, have the real capacity ray cast of hauling oneself willingly into shade and present to provide.This technology is the simple expansion of the technology up to the present discussed, but means the more significant change to sampling hardware.

About programmable texture sampling and sampling shade program, the gordian technique that the present invention realizes is to allow application program or developer to specify the direction and the spacing of anisotropy screening kernel sample.

The programming value that uses in the sampling of current pair/trilinear comprises: the u width of 4 kernels and v width.The extra value that programmable anisotropy according to the present invention is sampled comprises the du spacing of the sample among the u, the dv spacing of the sample among the v.In this, except each summit, the present invention allows each pixel ground to specify or revises these parameters, follows iteration afterwards.For example, for the environment map of anisotropy obfuscation, such technology is just enough.

The non-restrictive illustrative false code

The example pseudo code of anisotropic substantially shade program is as follows:

      for each pixel     {    ComputeBaseUV(&u，&v)    ComputeDuDv(based on std area eqn)    sum＝0.0；    for each sample         {    u＝u+du；    v＝v+dv；    sum+＝GetBilinearSample(u，v)          }    sum＝sum/nsamples(1，2，4，8)      }

For example, be used to simulate the fuzzy shade program of anisotropy of the metal of the brush that has environment map, the shade program of the motion blur of on each vertex data of 2-D, operating, its example pseudo code is as follows:

       for each pixel      {    ComputeBaseUV(&u，&v)        <!-- SIPO <DP n="24"> -->        <dp n="d24"/>    ReadDuDv from texture or iterators if per poly    sum＝0.0；    for numsamples(preferably pow2)            {    u＝u+du；    v＝v+dv；    sum +＝GetBilinearSample(u，v)；           }    sum＝sum/nsamples(1，2，4，8，16)；    return sum；      }

Hard shadow surface shaded program, for example, this ground surface is hauled oneself willingly into shade shade program, and this shade program produces shade edge clearly, but allows to allow when judging that the position is in shade sampling " early going out ", and its example pseudo code is as follows:

       du，dv，dw//steps in direction of light source    //(iterated from vertices)        for each pixel      {    ComputeBaseUV(&u，&v)    w＝SampleH(u，v)；//init ray at this pixel    sum＝0.0；    fori＝0；i＜numsamples(no pow2 reqt)    {    u＝u+du；//iterate towards light    v＝v+dv；    w＝w+dw；    h＝sampleH(u，v)；//get height    if(h＞w) //if height above ray        return 0.5；//then pixelis in shadow        <!-- SIPO <DP n="25"> -->        <dp n="d25"/>           }    return 1.0；//else it′s fully lit      }

Fuzzy shaded surface shade program, this shade program is calculated mark shade value by shade being published to hithermost occluder, and its example pseudo code is as follows:

       du，dv，dw//steps in direction of light source    //(iterated from vertices)       for each pixel       {    ComputeBaseUV(&u，&v)    w＝SampleH(u，v)；//init ray at this pixel    sum＝0.0；    for numSamples(no need for pow2)          {    u＝u+du；//iterate towards light    v＝v+dv；    w＝w+dw；    h＝sampleH(u，v)；//get height    del＝h-w；//height above ray    if(del＞max)max＝del；//find highest value            }    mapMaxtoShadow( )     }

The programmable capacity light cast shadow program that provides is provided other examples of purposes of the present invention, this accumulation of shade program and integrated trilinear sample value.Such shade program can based on data in pipeline environment hardness and show difference.In this, can utilize the present invention with integrated opaque object with the z buffer zone is collaborative.Under these circumstances, can carry out a z buffer zone and read, each sample can compare the z buffer zone.In addition, such technology can be supposed light all the time away from sight line, so that integrated can the termination according to the result of degree of depth compare operation.

Other examples of purposes of the present invention comprise provides the programmable shade capacity mist/fur shade program of hauling oneself willingly into, and this shade program is utilized current plank pattern rendering method for capacity data, but uses above-described technique computes shade light.

There are a plurality of approach to realize the present invention.A kind of approach provides a kind of realization, coprocessor wherein, and for example, GPU is an assembled in advance, is used to carry out function of the present invention, and receives the order that is suitable for controllable texture sampling described herein.Another kind of implementation of the present invention comprises the manual or automated programming to coprocessor, to realize function of the present invention, wherein, suitable API, kit, driver code, operating system, independent or Downloadable software object etc. can make the present invention use between application program and coprocessor.Another kind of implementation comprises revises the parameter that application modification is supplied to coprocessor, so that the modification/replacement of the region parameter of texture sampling process is transparent to coprocessor.So, the present invention can also be fully with hardware, partly with hardware with partly realize programmable texture sampling described herein with software and software realization mode.

In demonstration of the present invention realizes, an API assembly is provided, this assembly can be in the sampling statement designated parameter, the direction vector of the sampling that will take place with identification.Can also carry out various modifications to above-described method about the multidimensional sample vector.For example, the 3rd assembly that is used to calculate the elevation angle also can be used for cast shadow, capacity presents etc.An example of the such API assembly that is used for moving on hardware register is expressed as follows with the false code form:

    LD#r0，t0，v0    sample texture set at stage #    place result in r0    sample at texcoord t0    with footprint axis v0    and sampling count/blending mode defined in declaration ofstage # as in：    stg # wrapmode＝off，         tilemode＝wrap，         filtermode＝programmable，        <!-- SIPO <DP n="27"> -->        <dp n="d27"/>    samplecount＝16    width＝1    filterop＝replace(app-specified values)

Make the direction vector/stride of anisotropy Rendering Process comprise following function by the exemplary hardware part of the device of above-mentioned API appointment control: (A) default value, (B) replace, (C) add and (D) modulation.

In this, " default value " defined the sampling of traditional nonusable routine control, the stride and the direction of measured anisotropy filtering algorithm calculating sampling." replacement " function is replaced " default value " with the value of application program appointment." interpolation " function is added the value of application program appointment to the value of chip calculating to determine last sample direction." modulation " function multiply by the value of chip calculating to determine last sample direction with the direction vector of application program appointment.

What in one embodiment of the invention, hardware chip used existing subordinate reads hardware technology to obtain independent sample, so that realize various technology of the present invention.Such embodiment allows application program to control the position of each sample in kernel, and just each does not organize the position in two two bilinearity zone, and is so, more general than above-described some technology.

Other purposes of the present invention comprise that parameter that the derived method of the horizontal mapping method that uses Nelson Marx utilizes by control reaches and haul oneself willingly into shadow-texture.

The present invention also supports throw light and current z buffer zone are intersected or carry out (1) detection in that the saturated time takes place in its each relevant embodiment, and sky is returned in (2) " go out morning " or (3).

In other embodiments of the invention, provide programmable sampling shade program, allowed sampling operation is carried out algorithm controls, each details as mentioned in the above is described.In addition, reached some second order effects, as changed the spacing of these increments, or gone on foot the ability of the size that changes kernel, so can carry out modeling fuzzy, diverging light at each.

As mentioned above, although come example embodiment of the present invention is described in conjunction with various computing equipments and network architecture, key concept can be applied to any computing equipment or the system that can carry out texture sampling.So, be used for providing the technology of improved signal Processing can be applied to various application programs and equipment according to of the present invention.For example, algorithm of the present invention can be applied to the operating system of computing equipment, no matter be as the independent object on the equipment, ingredient as another object, as can be from the object of downloaded, as " go-between " between equipment or object and the network, provide as distributed objects etc.Though demonstration programming language, title and the example of Xuan Zeing is the representative of various selections herein, these language, title and example be not as restriction.A people who is proficient in present technique will understand, and have a lot of approach to provide to reach the object code of identical, the similar or equivalent controllable texture sampling that the present invention reaches.

Various technology described herein can be used hardware or software, or in suitable place, uses both combinations to realize.So, method and apparatus of the present invention, or some aspect of the present invention or ingredient, the form that can present the program code of implementing with the tangible medium such as floppy disk, CD-ROM, hard disk drive or any other machine-readable storage medium (promptly, instruction), it is characterized in that when program code was loaded into the machine such as computing machine and is carried out by machine, machine became and is used to implement device of the present invention.At program code under situation about carrying out on the programmable computing machine, computing equipment generally comprises processor, the readable storage medium (comprising volatibility and nonvolatile memory and/or memory element) of processor, at least one input equipment and at least one output device.Can utilize one or more programs of signal Processing service of the present invention, for example,, under the preferable case, realize to communicate with computer system with high-level process or object oriented programming languages by using data processing API or the like.Yet if desired, program also can realize with compilation or machine language.Under any circumstance, language can be the language that has compiled or explain, and realizes combining with hardware.

Method and apparatus of the present invention can also pass through to pass through such as electric wire or cable, the communication that the form of some transmission medium of optical fiber and so on or the program code that transmits by the transmission of any other form is implemented realizes, it is characterized in that, when such as EPROM, gate array, the machine of programmable logical device (PLD) and so on receives program code, be loaded in the machine and when carrying out by machine, client computer, video recorder or the like, or the reception machine of describing in the example embodiment as mentioned in the above with signal processing function becomes and is used to implement device of the present invention.When realizing on general processor, program code combines with processor so that the device of a uniqueness to be provided, and this device operation is to call function of the present invention.In addition, the combination that any memory technology of using with the present invention can hardware and software.

Although be that present invention is described for preferred embodiment in conjunction with various figures, but be appreciated that, can use other similar embodiment, perhaps can make amendment and replenish, and not depart from its spirit and scope the described embodiment that is used to carry out same function of the present invention.For example, exemplary network environment of the present invention is described in the context of the networked environment such as reciprocity networked environment although be, being proficient in present technique will recognize the people, the present invention is not limited only to this, the method of describing among the application can be applied to any computing equipment or environment, as game console, hand-held computer, portable computer etc., no matter by wired connection still by wireless connections, and can be applied to connect by communication network and mutual many these type of computing equipments of across a network.In addition, also should emphasize, also can use various computer platforms, comprise hand portable equipment operating system and the specific operating system of other application programs, particularly along with the expansion of the quantity of Wireless Communication Equipment.In addition, also can or stride many process chip or equipment ground in many process chip or equipment and realize the present invention, can stride many equipment and similarly store.Therefore, the present invention should not only limit to any single embodiment, and should be interpreted as according to appended claim to scope in.

Claims (76)

1. method that controllable texture sampling is provided comprises:

Specify at least one parameter of the sample area of utilizing when texture maps carried out texture sampling; And

Said designated parameter according to said sample area is carried out texture sampling to said texture maps.

2. method according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, said assigned operation comprises at least one operation in following two operations, and (1) revises at least one canonical parameter by at least one off-set value of specifying said at least one canonical parameter and (2) replace at least one canonical parameter with at least one alternative parameter.

3. method according to claim 2, it is characterized in that, said retouching operation comprises at least one operation in following several operation: add off-set value and canonical parameter, multiply by off-set value and canonical parameter, as one in an index application off-set value and the canonical parameter, deduct off-set value and canonical parameter, carry out predefined mathematical function based on canonical parameter and off-set value.

4. method according to claim 1 is characterized in that, said sample area is the sample area of at least one process from point sampling process, bilinearity screening process, MIP mapping process, anisotropy screening process and anti-aliasing technical process.

5. method according to claim 1 is characterized in that, said appointment comprises that in each summit of relating to said texture sampling and each pixel at least one specify said at least one parameter.

6. method according to claim 5 further comprises the said texture sampling of iterated application.

7. method according to claim 1 is characterized in that, said appointment comprises the step-length of specifying sample area and at least one in the direction.

8. method according to claim 5 is characterized in that, said assigned operation comprises at least one in following two operations: specify the du spacing of the sample on the u direction and the dv spacing of the sample on the appointment v direction.

9. method according to claim 5 is characterized in that, said appointment comprises at least one of specifying in Δ u value, Δ v value and the Δ w value.

10. method according to claim 1 is characterized in that, said appointment comprises the α that appointment is used with bilinearity screening calculating _aValue and α _bIn the value one.

11. method according to claim 1 is characterized in that, said sample area is an anisotropy screening sample area.

12. method according to claim 11 is characterized in that, said at least one parameter comprises the direction of anisotropy screening kernel sample and at least one in the spacing.

13. method according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, according to said designated parameters said texture maps is carried out at least one effect of visualization that said texture sampling changes the pel spacing that is produced by said texture sampling, said at least one effect of visualization comprises at least one effect in the following effect: blur effect, blocky effect, the dizzy effect of texture, pixel eject effect, time aliasing effect, texture flicker effect, texture contractive effect and hangover effect.

14. method according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, said texture maps is carried out said texture sampling veining triangular surface to reach at least one effect in the following effect: lighting effect, piece shape mapping effect, blur effect, reflection blur effect, Fresnel blur effect, marbling effect, flowing water effect, linear atomizing effect, index atomizing effect, atomizing effect, transparent effect, translucent effect, curved surface effect, hard shadow effect, fuzzy hatching effect and capacity veining effect based on scope according to said designated parameters.

15. method according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, at least one parameter of said appointment comprises at least one parameter of specifying the sample area of using motion blur, and said appointment further comprises the direction vector of using iterative summit rank data with the control sample area.

16. method according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, at least one parameter of said appointment comprises at least one at least one parameter of sample area in the propinquity effect that specify to use anisotropic surface reflection, light scattering and mirror illumination, and said appointment further comprises in specifying one of each summit of sample direction in application sample zone and each pixel.

17. method according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, at least one parameter of said appointment comprises at least one parameter of specifying application surface to haul oneself willingly into the sample area of shade, and said appointment further comprises each pixel appointment of the sample direction in application sample zone.

18. method according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, at least one parameter of said appointment comprises at least one parameter of specifying application surface to haul oneself willingly into the sample area of shade, and said appointment further comprises each pixel appointment of the sample direction in application sample zone.

19. method according to claim 18 is characterized in that, said appointment further comprises the specified control parameter, for use in the calculating of deriving of Nelson Marx's level mapping.

20. method according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, at least one parameter of said appointment comprises at least one parameter of specifying the sample area of using the sampling of ray cast capacity, wherein, ray cast capacity sampling comprises is cut into polygon with the relative quadrature of direction of visual lines with a capacity, said appointment further comprises the sample direction of specifying sample area, and said texture sampling comprises the sample direction of iterated application appointment.

21. method according to claim 20, further comprise detection when one of them throw light intersect with current z buffer zone and when take place saturated.

22. method according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, at least one parameter of said appointment comprises specify using hauls oneself willingly at least one parameter that the shade capacity presents the sample area that presents in conjunction with traditional thin slice or plank pattern capacity, and said appointment comprises that further each summit of the sample direction in application sample zone specifies.

23. method according to claim 1 is characterized in that, said appointment comprises the direction vector of specifying sample area by an API assembly.

24. be used for providing at least one of operating system, driver code, application programming interface, kit and associated treatment equipment of controllable texture sampling according to claim 1.

25. carry the modulated data signal of the executable instruction of computing machine that is used to carry out method according to claim 1.

26. comprise the computing equipment of the device that is used to carry out method according to claim 1.

27. be used to provide the computer-readable medium of controllable texture sampling, stored the executable module of at least one computing machine above, comprise the executable instruction of computing machine that is used to carry out a kind of method, this method comprises:

Specify at least one parameter of the sample area of utilizing when texture maps carried out texture sampling; And

Said designated parameter according to said sample area is carried out texture sampling to said texture maps.

28. computer-readable medium according to claim 27, it is characterized in that said assigned operation comprises at least one operation in following two operations: (1) revises at least one canonical parameter by at least one off-set value of specifying said at least one canonical parameter and (2) replace at least one canonical parameter with at least one alternative parameter.

29. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 28, it is characterized in that, said modification comprises at least one operation in following several operation: add off-set value and canonical parameter, multiply by off-set value and canonical parameter, as one in an index application off-set value and the canonical parameter, deduct off-set value and canonical parameter, carry out predefined mathematical function based on canonical parameter and off-set value.

30. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27, it is characterized in that said sample area is the sample area of at least one process from point sampling process, bilinearity screening process, MIP mapping process, anisotropy screening process and anti-aliasing technical process.

31. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27 is characterized in that, said appointment comprises that in each summit of relating to said texture sampling and each pixel at least one specify said at least one parameter.

32. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 31 further comprises the said texture sampling of iterated application.

33. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27 is characterized in that, said appointment comprises the step-length of specifying sample area and at least one in the direction.

34. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 31 is characterized in that, said appointment comprises at least one in du spacing of specifying the sample on the u direction and these two operations of dv spacing of the specifying the sample on the v direction.

35. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 31 is characterized in that, said appointment comprises at least one of specifying in Δ u value, Δ v value and the Δ w value.

36. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27 is characterized in that, said appointment comprises the α that appointment is used with bilinearity screening calculating _aValue and α _bIn the value one.

37. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27 is characterized in that, said sample area is an anisotropy screening sample area.

38., it is characterized in that said at least one parameter comprises the direction of anisotropy screening kernel sample and at least one in the spacing according to described at least one the computer-readable medium of claim 37.

39. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27, it is characterized in that, saidly start at least one effect of visualization that the sampling of said texture maps texture changes the pel spacing that is produced by said texture sampling according to said designated parameters, said at least one effect of visualization comprises at least one effect in the following effect: blur effect, blocky effect, the dizzy effect of texture, pixel eject effect, time aliasing effect, texture flicker effect, texture contractive effect and hangover effect.

40. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27, it is characterized in that, saidly carry out said texture sampling veining triangular surface that texture sampling started to reach at least one effect in the following effect by said startup texture maps: lighting effect according to said designated parameters, piece shape mapping effect, blur effect, the reflection blur effect, the Fresnel blur effect, marbling effect, the flowing water effect, linear atomizing effect, the index atomizing effect, atomizing effect based on scope, transparent effect, translucent effect, the curved surface effect, the hard shadow effect, fuzzy hatching effect and capacity veining effect.

41. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27, it is characterized in that, at least one parameter of said appointment comprises at least one parameter of specifying the sample area of using motion blur, and said appointment further comprises the direction vector of using iterative summit rank data with the control sample area.

42. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27, it is characterized in that, at least one parameter of said appointment comprises at least one at least one parameter of sample area in the propinquity effect that specify to use anisotropic surface reflection, light scattering and mirror illumination, and said appointment further comprises in specifying one of each summit of sample direction in application sample zone and each pixel.

43. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27, it is characterized in that, at least one parameter of said appointment comprises at least one parameter of specifying application surface to haul oneself willingly into the sample area of shade, and said appointment further comprises each pixel appointment of the sample direction in application sample zone.

44. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27, it is characterized in that, at least one parameter of said appointment comprises at least one parameter of specifying application surface to haul oneself willingly into the sample area of shade, and said appointment further comprises each pixel appointment of the sample direction in application sample zone.

45. according to described at least one the computer-readable medium of claim 44, it is characterized in that said appointment further comprises the specified control parameter, for use in the calculating of deriving of Nelson Marx's level mapping.

46. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27, it is characterized in that, at least one parameter of said appointment comprises at least one parameter of specifying the sample area of using the sampling of ray cast capacity, it is characterized in that, ray cast capacity sampling comprises is cut into polygon with the relative quadrature of direction of visual lines with a capacity, said appointment further comprises the sample direction of specifying sample area, and the said texture sampling that said startup texture sampling starts comprises the sample direction of iterated application appointment.

47. according to described at least one the computer-readable medium of claim 46, further comprise detection when one of them throw light intersect with current z buffer zone and when take place saturated.

48. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27, it is characterized in that, at least one parameter of said appointment comprises specify using hauls oneself willingly at least one parameter that the shade capacity presents the sample area that presents in conjunction with traditional thin slice or plank pattern capacity, and said appointment comprises that further each summit of the sample direction in application sample zone specifies.

49. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27 is characterized in that, said appointment comprises the direction vector of specifying sample area by an application programming interface API assembly.

50. at least one computer-readable medium according to claim 27 is characterized in that at least one in application programming interface API, driver code, operating system and the application program comprises said module.

51. the associated treatment equipment with controllable texture sampling instruction is used comprises:

An input module is used to be received in the designated value of at least one parameter of the sample area of utilizing when texture maps carried out texture sampling; And

A texture sampling assembly is used for according to the said designated parameter of said sample area said texture maps being carried out texture sampling.

52. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51, it is characterized in that, said input module comprises at least one in following two assemblies: (1) first input module, the designated value of at least one off-set value of this assembly by receiving said at least one canonical parameter receives instruction and (2) second input modules that are used to revise at least one canonical parameter, and this assembly receives the instruction that is used for replacing with at least one alternative parameter at least one canonical parameter.

53. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 52, it is characterized in that, said first input module that receives modify instruction comprises: the 3rd input module that receives the instruction that is used to add off-set value and canonical parameter, reception is used to multiply by the 4th input module of the instruction of off-set value and canonical parameter, reception is used for using as index one the 5th input module of off-set value and canonical parameter, reception is used to deduct the 6th input module of the instruction of off-set value and canonical parameter, and receives the 7th input module that is used for carrying out based on canonical parameter and off-set value the instruction of predefined mathematical function.

54. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51, it is characterized in that said sample area is the sample area of at least one process from point sampling process, bilinearity screening process, MIP mapping process, anisotropy screening process and anti-aliasing technical process.

55. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51, it is characterized in that the said input module that receives the instruction be used for carrying out assigned operation comprises that a reception is used to relate to each summit of said texture sampling and at least one of each pixel specified the assembly of the instruction of said at least one parameter.

56., further comprise the said texture sampling of iterated application texture sampling assembly according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 55.

57., it is characterized in that the said input module that receives the instruction be used for carrying out assigned operation comprises according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51: reception is used to specify at least one the assembly of instruction of the step-length of sample area and direction.

58. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 55, it is characterized in that, the said input module that reception is used for carrying out the instruction of assigned operation comprises at least one of following two assemblies: first input module, this assembly receives the instruction of the du spacing that is used to specify the sample on the u direction, second input module, this assembly receives the instruction of the dv spacing that is used to specify the sample on the v direction.

59., it is characterized in that the said input module that receives the instruction be used to carry out assigned operation comprises an assembly according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 55, this assembly receives at least one the instruction that is used to specify in Δ u value, Δ v value and the Δ w value.

60., it is characterized in that the said input module that receives the instruction be used to carry out assigned operation comprises an assembly according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51, this assembly receives to be used to specify with the bilinearity screening and calculates the α that uses _aValue and α _bOne instruction in the value.

61., it is characterized in that said sample area is an anisotropy screening sample area according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51.

62., it is characterized in that said at least one parameter comprises the direction of anisotropy screening kernel sample and at least one in the spacing according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 61.

63. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51, it is characterized in that, by the texture sampling assembly said texture maps is carried out at least one effect of visualization that said texture sampling changes the pel spacing that is produced by said texture sampling according to said designated parameters, said at least one effect of visualization comprises at least one effect in the following effect: blur effect, blocky effect, the dizzy effect of texture, pixel eject effect, time aliasing effect, texture flicker effect, texture contractive effect and hangover effect.

64. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51, it is characterized in that, by the texture sampling assembly said texture maps is carried out said texture sampling veining triangular surface to reach at least one effect in the following effect according to said designated parameters: lighting effect, piece shape mapping effect, blur effect, the reflection blur effect, the Fresnel blur effect, marbling effect, the flowing water effect, linear atomizing effect, the index atomizing effect, atomizing effect based on scope, transparent effect, translucent effect, the curved surface effect, the hard shadow effect, fuzzy hatching effect and capacity veining effect.

65. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51, it is characterized in that, the said input module that reception is used to specify the instruction of at least one parameter comprises first input module, this assembly receives the instruction of at least one parameter that is used to specify the sample area of using motion blur, said input module further comprises second assembly, and this assembly receives and is used for the instruction of using iterative summit rank data with the direction vector of control sample area.

66. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51, it is characterized in that, the said input module that reception is used to specify the instruction of at least one parameter comprises first input module, this assembly receives to be used to specify uses the anisotropic surface reflection, the instruction of at least one parameter of the sample area of at least one in the propinquity effect of light scattering and mirror illumination, the said input module that reception is used to carry out the instruction of assigned operation further comprises second assembly, and this assembly receives each summit of the sample direction that is used for the application sample zone and one the instruction that each pixel is specified.

67. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51, it is characterized in that, the said input module that reception is used to specify the instruction of at least one parameter comprises first input module, this assembly receives and is used to specify the instruction of at least one parameter that application surface is hauled oneself willingly into the sample area of shade, the said input module that reception is used to carry out the instruction of assigned operation further comprises second input module, and this assembly receives the instruction of each pixel appointment of the sample direction that is used for the application sample zone.

68. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51, it is characterized in that, the said input module that reception is used to specify the instruction of at least one parameter comprises first input module, this assembly receives and is used to specify the instruction of at least one parameter that application surface is hauled oneself willingly into the sample area of shade, the said input module that reception is used to carry out the instruction of assigned operation further comprises second input module, and this assembly receives the instruction of each pixel appointment of the sample direction that is used for the application sample zone.

69. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 68, it is characterized in that, the said input module that reception is used to carry out the instruction of assigned operation further comprises an assembly, and this assembly receives and is used to specify the instruction of deriving calculating of controlled variable for use in Nelson Marx's level mapping.

70. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51, it is characterized in that, the said input module that reception is used to specify the instruction of at least one parameter comprises first input module, this assembly receives the instruction of at least one parameter that is used to specify the sample area of using the sampling of ray cast capacity, wherein, ray cast capacity sampling comprises is cut into polygon with the relative quadrature of direction of visual lines with a capacity, the said input module that reception is used to carry out the instruction of assigned operation further comprises second input module, this assembly receives the instruction of the sample direction that is used to specify sample area, the sample direction of said texture sampling assembly iterated application appointment.

71. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 70, further comprise detection when one of them throw light intersect with current z buffer zone and when take place saturated.

72. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51, it is characterized in that, the said input module that reception is used to specify the instruction of at least one parameter comprises first input module, this assembly receives to be used to specify to use hauls oneself willingly into the instruction that the shade capacity presents at least one parameter of the sample area that presents in conjunction with traditional thin slice or plank pattern capacity, the said input module that reception is used to carry out the instruction of assigned operation further comprises second input module, and this assembly receives the instruction of each summit appointment of the sample direction that is used to specify sample area.

73. according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51, it is characterized in that, the said input module that reception is used to carry out the instruction of assigned operation comprises an assembly, and at least one reception from application programming interface API, driver code, operating system and application program of this assembly is used to specify the instruction of the direction vector of sample area.

74., it is characterized in that said associated treatment equipment comprises at least one Graphics Processing Unit GPU according to the described associated treatment equipment of claim 51.

75. be used to provide the computer-readable medium of controllable texture sampling, stored the executable module of one or more computing machines above, comprise the executable instruction of computing machine, module comprises:

Be used to specify the device of at least one parameter of the sample area of when texture maps is carried out texture sampling, utilizing; And

Be used for beginning said texture maps is carried out the device of texture sampling according to the said designated parameter of said sample area.

76. the associated treatment equipment with controllable texture sampling instruction is used comprises:

Be used to be received in the device of designated value of at least one parameter of the sample area of utilizing when texture maps carried out texture sampling; And

Be used for beginning said texture maps is carried out the device of texture sampling according to the said designated parameter of said sample area.

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